worldwide introductions

The sweet little bo-peep has made her arrival. Our sixth child, our second daughter, first fixed her eyes on God’s beautiful world—a winter wonderland here at our new home in Fenwick, Ontario—on February 4, 2013 and was baptized Havilah Noëlle Horton Sunday, February 17th.

Havilah’s name which means “circular” comes from Edenic geography in Genesis 2:11 where the Pishon River encompassed this land known for its good gold. We pray that Havilah likewise would be planted by rivers of water (Psalm 1), bearing fruit in season, and being endowed richly by the Lord, in turn, bless His kingdom, the world with her gifts. Her middle name comes from the French/Latin meaning birth and this name celebrates our joy at Christ’s birth and incarnation and the joy of the rebirth in which we participate being bound up in Him.

Thank you to all those who have prayed for us throughout this pregnancy and our move to Canada. We are so thankful to the Lord for a sustained pregnancy and safe delivery. I’m especially thankful for a family-full of enthusiastic helpers who have spoiled me silly with some ‘honeymoon’ postpartum days with my new girl, tons of amazing meal contributions from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, great midwives from La Sages Femmes Rennaissance (Welland), and for my favorite fellow-labourer in Christ’s kingdom (and my beloved water-birth labourer and coach, baby catcher, and cord-cutter to boot), my husband Chris.